An Evaluation on the Reasons Why College Students Fail to Follow CLAYGO

Florence Chaile M. Salinas

Krisha Marie G. Zulueta
Colina D. Ognes
Amerah C. Bertudan
Divina Mae B. Oberes

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the reasons why college students of Liceo de Cagayan University (LDCU)
fail to follow CLAYGO. In this study we will also know if they are aware of CLAYGO, and what are the reasons why they
cannot practice it inside of the campus. Although, despite the numbers it is still visible that only few students exercises this
habit. It is so bad that this practice is being taken for granted for some students and worse, forgotten. The general cleanliness
and concern for the surroundings have always been a pervasive issue that needs furthermore improvement. The Earth needs our
help to prolong its existence. In this study, we are calling every college students to participate and be responsible in disposing
on our garbage. Students must cooperate and be disciplined to make our school clean and healthy. There is also a need to get
rid of the mentality that someone else will clean up after our mess, for whatever we do that harms our environment will also
harm us. This study also helps us improve the cleanliness of our school and to start the change of it.

Introduction
Everywhere in the corner of the surrounding, it is observable by the two eyes that unusual and
unwanted things were neglected. It makes an eye sore to anybody who are concerned to cleanliness is
next to godliness. However these things are contributory factors to make new resources if everybody will
help to collect, segregate and make use of creativity skills.
Hence, program of solid waste management is implemented as a regulation of the state as
define as is the collection, transport or disposal and treatment of waste materials. It relates to materials
produced to human activities, and the process generally undertaken to endure its effects on health, the
environment and aesthetics. It reduces or eliminates adverse impacts on the environment and human
health rather supports economic development and improves the quality of life.
CLAYGO or “Clean as you go” is a practice commonly observed in some fast food chains and
other public places to minimize risks to hygiene, health, and safety. This method encourages all of us to
make cleaning a part of our daily routine. More than being obsessed with cleanliness, this practice is our
little way of showing how we care for our environment. Instead of relying entirely on street sweepers or
city cleaners, we should at least make an effort on cleaning up our own mess. However, no matter how
easy as it may seem, this self-explanatory policy is not being practiced by most of us. In riverside college,
it is one of the ground rules where every student or anyone around the campus is required to oblige. It is a
way for the school to maintain not only its cleanliness and order but it gives the students a kind of
responsibility when it comes to their own wastes. Practicing claygo has its several advantages one in
which is appreciated by our janitorial staff for it not only lessens to the amount of work they do everyday,
it also teaches our fellow students to always be conscious with their actions especially in maintaining the
pristine surrounding of the school.
 Conceptual Framework

According to Busalla, Cones, Mercader, Morales Serrano (2013) on their study on the Level of
Waste Management the Selected Public Schools in Cebu City: Proposed improvement, education is an
essential part of our existence which is why approximately 23 million of the Philippines’ population today
is enrolled in elementary and secondary education. Of the 23 million, around 20 million are students of
the public schools while the rest, about 3 million, are enrolled in private school. With the recent
implementation last June 4, 2012 of the K-12 educational system, this number will increase exponentially
in the years to come.

Due to the expected rise in numbers of enrolees in the new educational system, environmental
health education is one of the main concerns of the school and the government because it directly affects
the students as well as the surrounding and the communities where it belongs. Almost the quarter of the
population is the elementary and the secondary students and as a group, have an enormous contributory
impact in the environment. This impact is geared towards the positive attitudes in making the
environment free from waste. The capacity of these students has to influence the use of proper disposal of
waste appropriately and be aware to compel the rest of the population to do the responsibility.

In today’s polluted world, learning the correct methods of handling the waste generated has
become essential (Marello and Helwege, 2014). The persistent increase in human population and rapid
industrialization has caused the continuing global problems on improper wastes disposal (Atienza 2008).
The major drawbacks concerning wastes management, especially in the developing countries are the
ineffective waste collection strategies and the lack of disposal sites (Reyes et al., 2013). It has been
suggested, likewise, that practices of basic solid waste management (SWM) are often neglected at the
individual level (Licy et al., 2013). While most people are aware of the negative impacts of mismanaged
wastes on the environment, their negative attitude coupled with insufficient environmental knowledge
among individuals usually corresponds to poor practices towards maintaining good environmental
conditions (Licy et al., 2013).
Awareness of solid waste management will create change on how people look at garbage. People
grew up thinking that garbage is garbage, it should not be touched or one should not go near to it. They
thought before that all types of garbage should just be thrown in one container (Sarino, 2014). According
to Baula as cited by Punongbayan (2014), awareness accompanied by participation is the key for students
to be involved in the waste management program of the schools where effective and sustainable
implementation of the proper waste management practices could be achieved. Segregation at source is a
solid waste management practice of separating different materials found in solid waste at the point of
origin in order to promote recycling and re-use of resources and to reduce the volume of waste for
collection and disposal (Article 2, Section 3, RA 9003).
 Methodology

This part of the study presents and discusses the research respondents and the sampling
procedure, the research instrument to be used by the researchers, data collection procedures as well as the
statistical treatment. In this study, the researchers shall gather college students at least 20. The
respondents are being identified by their attitudes on failing to follow CLAYGO. The researchers will use
research questionnaires through online surveys and this will determine how often follow CLAYGO.

Many people are concerned about our environment. Students taught how to clean their wastes
ever since their grade school day. Students were also taught how to segregate their wastes to
biodegradable and non-biodegradable. According to BES cleaning, cleanliness is important to
productivity and that is considered one of the top 4 most important building elements for school or
learning environment.

ClayGo is a method that encourages us to make a cleaning part of our daily routine. It is a
practice commonly observed in some fast food chains and other public places yo minimize. However, no
matter how easy as it may seem, this self-explanatory policy is not being practiced by most of us. It is not
about to maintain cleanliness, it is the responsibility of the student to start practicing from themselves to
segregation of wastes because CLAYGO have several advantages one in which is appreciated by our
janitorial staffs for it only lessens to the amount of work they do every day, it also teaches our fellow
students to always be conscious with their actions, especially in maintaining the pristine surroundings of
the school.

Most garbage in the school are collected by the janitors daily and they manage it and for the
LGU’s garbage collectors, they collect the garbage weekly while the students collect their own garbage as
required or requested.
 SURVEY METHOD TO THE PROBLEM

What mostly the waste problem in the surrounding observed in the university along the building
trash bin

Places where it is Used

Waste material Canteen/ Fast Comfort library hallway classroom

food Room
a. Cellophane / /
b. Junk foods wrappers / / / / /
c. Paper / / / / /
d. Dry leaves, grasses, whithered / /
plants
e. fruit peeling / /
f. plastic cups / / / /
g. disposable spoon and forks /
h. skewers / /
i. bottles / /
j. paper plates /cups / /
k. food pack / /
l. candy wrappers / / / / /
Average 12 3 4 4 11
It is found out that most waste garbage are found in the canteen and classroom where
students stayed during break hours and class session. This materials are non-biodegradable that needs
segregation where some can be recycled nor reused. The garbage container can easily be full to the extent
that plastic require space inside. Paper and cartoon are biodegradable which can be crumpled and
arranged in bundled. Fruit peeling and dry leaves can be collected by the students assigned to make
compost. This will only happen if proper discipline of all concerned cooperate one another to minimize
throwing waste behind tables, landscape area or falling somewhere when nobody can see.

RESULTS/ DISCUSSIONS

Awareness of CLAYGO
YES NO

20%

80%
 The illustration above shows that among the 20 respondents, 80% of the college students are
aware of the campaign and the 20% represents the college students that aren’t aware of CLAYGO.
Therefore, the awareness of CLAYGO campaign is high.

Do they follow CLAYGO?

YES NO

10%

90%

Second illustration shows the percentage of the college students who are following CLAYGO.
Based on the results, 90% of the students follow the CLAYGO campaign and the rest of the 10% doesn’t
follow or practice CLAYGO because of it is not posted in every establishment specifically in fastfood
establishments. Then it is not necessary to follow CLAYGO for them.

How they often follow

CLAYGO ?
always sometimes never
5%

25%
70%

This illustration shows that 70% of the college students always follow CLAYGO because based
on the results of the study, it describes their proper hygiene as part of their good attitude taught from their
elders or parents. 25% of the students only practice CLAYGO on some times because of the reason that
they are always in a rush. The rest of the 5% don’t follow or practice CLAYGO because they believe that
there are workers that are being paid to do it.

90% of the students suggested that education is the best way to promote CLAYGO because
students will know how to be responsible on their own wastes by maintaining their environment clean and
green. Some students suggested that the best way to promote CLAYGO is by practicing it by yourself and
making it as a habit.

Majority of the students say that one of their reasons of failing to follow CLAYGO is because
they are in a rush and they don’t mind leaving their wastes because they rely on workers that would clean
their trashes. Some students say it is time consuming and that it is not a must since there are people who
are assigned to do the job.

Summary/Conclusion

After conducting the survey, the researchers have concluded that discipline is one of the factor
that must be considered in order to achieve this CLAYGO. It all starts with self-discipline and one’s
initiative to do the right thing without being told. Let it be a competition in all department classroom and
surrounding promote a beautiful and clean school for a better education by making landscape and garden
parks. As a performance activity of the students leading to finish the course and the curriculum
implementation.